Overview

Snorkeling opens up a world of underwater adventure for many travelers. Some have little or no interest in scuba diving, while others are divers who enjoy the freedom snorkeling offers from diving's heavy gear. Certain worldwide destinations have outstanding reputations for their shallow water sites that are suitable for snorkelers.

Grand Cayman

Grand Cayman made it onto the lists of top snorkeling destinations for Away.com, Frommer's and CNN, and it was listed largely on the strength of a single snorkeling site: Stingray City. The island combines this famous snorkeling site with mid-range to upscale Caribbean beach resorts. Stingray City is a cluster of sandbars about 12 or 13 feet deep in crystal clear waters that was once regularly used by local fisherman as a calm place to stop and clean fish before returning to shore. The result was dumping a lot of fish guts into the water above the sandbars, which in turn attracted a permanent population of stingrays. Now it is a magnet for snorkelers, divers and glass-bottom boats. Every snorkel boat operator in Grand Cayman offers a trip out to Stingray City, as well as to other shallow coral reefs in the area. CNN recommends checking the cruise ship schedule before going on a trip, as a cruise ship in port means crowded snorkel boat tours.

Bonaire

The island of Bonaire in the Netherlands Antilles was listed as a top snorkeling site by both Away.com and Frommer's. The island has been a protected marine park for decades, ensuring healthy coral reefs and plenty of sea life. What makes Bonaire such a prime site for a snorkeling vacation is that so many of these reefs are accessible right from shore. No snorkeling tours are really necessary, since a visitor can have underwater adventures day after day simply by strapping on a mask, snorkel and fins and swimming out from a beach or a rocky stretch of coast. Bonaire has upscale beach resorts, but also a number of rental vacation apartments or villas, such as those of KonTiki Beach or Sun Rentals Bonaire.

Buck Island

One of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Buck Island was singled out by CNN and Frommer's. The 840-acre snorkeling area here, thick with coral, sponges and fish, is protected by the Buck Island Reef National Monument. Buck Island is a day-use only area, so there are no accommodations of any kind on the island itself. Boats are permitted to anchor offshore by permit, but most visitors come to snorkel the island on a snorkel boat tour from Saint Croix, and therefore have accommodations there. St. Croix, in turn, has accommodation options ranging from posh resorts to humble guest houses.